What is Your Ideal Cue Tip Height

lfigueroa

lfigueroa

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
What height do you like your cue tip?

Are you one of those guys that likes them so low that the curvature of the tip goes right to the ferrule? Or, when the cue mechanic hands you back your newly re-tipped shaft you want and expect to see all 14 layers of tip there?

I'd be interested in hearing why you like the the height you do.

Lou Figueroa
 
I personally like my tip a little on the shorter side. About 1/4 the size of a brand new tip. A buddy of mine is totally convinced that 5.5 layers is the perfect size.
 
The only difference is that the cue becomes a little longer with a brand new tip. So if you're like me and cue up very close to the ball, you end up barely bumping the cb a lot until you get used to the different length.
 
Lou,

I'm probably going to be on the short list of players who like ALL of the tip to be on the ferrule. That said, I use a Triangle tip on the majority of my cues and they can be "honking-big" :o!!! Makes my cue about 1/4" longer:grin::grin::grin:.

When it gets about 2/3 of the way down, I replace it.

Maniac
 
When a NEW Tip is installed for me I say keep it LONG, Shp it like a DIME, and Play it Down to were the edges split off.
 
Years ago with LePro tips I liked them very low. For some time I liked the layered tips that way too. Now I like a very hard layered tip very tall with some "bite." They last so long too.
 
Drew said:
The only difference is that the cue becomes a little longer with a brand new tip. So if you're like me and cue up very close to the ball, you end up barely bumping the cb a lot until you get used to the different length.
Click to expand...


What about feedback? Spin? Tip distortion?

You know, like on those high speed videos where you can see a high tip deforming on contact with the cue ball. I'm wondering if that is a good thing or a bad thing.

Lou Figueroa
 
Maniac said:
Lou,

I'm probably going to be on the short list of players who like ALL of the tip to be on the ferrule. That said, I use a Triangle tip on the majority of my cues and they can be "honking-big" :o!!! Makes my cue about 1/4" longer:grin::grin::grin:.

When it gets about 2/3 of the way down, I replace it.

Maniac
Click to expand...


Wow, 2/3 down -- you are a maniac :-)

Do you notice any difference in performance through the (short) life of your tips and why replace at 2/3?

Lou Figueroa
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
When a NEW Tip is installed for me I say keep it LONG, Shp it like a DIME, and Play it Down to were the edges split off.
Click to expand...


What, if any, performance differences do you detect through the life of your tips?

Lou Figueroa
if you don't answer this one
I am going to stop asking you
follow up questions
or responding at all to you
 
Fieldhammer said:
Years ago with LePro tips I liked them very low. For some time I liked the layered tips that way too. Now I like a very hard layered tip very tall with some "bite." They last so long too.
Click to expand...


I imagine you could go pretty low with the Le Pros...

So has it become just a longevity issue for you?

Lou Figueroa
 
I like it full size, when it gets to 2/3 to 1/2, I replace it.
It seems to go dead, I like a 'lively' tip.

Hard to explain, but it seems I need more english on an older compacted tip to receive the same results on of a new tip.
 
I use unlayered tips. Even them I cut a third off when replacing. I've tried a few of the layered tips and find I foul often hitting the CB with my practice strokes. Johnnyt
 
lfigueroa said:
Wow, 2/3 down -- you are a maniac :-)

Do you notice any difference in performance through the (short) life of your tips and why replace at 2/3?

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

I do find a difference in performance, however slight it may be. I find the tip plays a tad harder when it gets down too close to the ferrule. The Triangle tips that I prefer are a medium/hard tip to start with. I just don't want one to be totally hard. I think the glue soaks a bit upward into the tip (keeping in mind there are no layers with glue between each layer) that cause the feeling of added hardness. The close proximity to the ferrule itself could (and probably does) cause additional hardness. I kinda like a semi-mushy feel to the tip when I contact the cue ball. I also do not like a stiff-hitting cue. Just a personal preference. FWIW, I do my own tip replacing and buy tips in boxes of 50, so it's no problem nor high-cost to keep the end of my cue the way I am comfortable with. Here's a funny thing: I like the Samsara tips I have on my J/B cues to be a long as possible too, although it's common knowledge/lore (one that I believe in to an extent) that a thinner tip creates a harder surface which would be better suited to breaking and jumping. Go figure!

Maniac
 
lfigueroa said:
What height do you like your cue tip?

Are you one of those guys that likes them so low that the curvature of the tip goes right to the ferrule? Or, when the cue mechanic hands you back your newly re-tipped shaft you want and expect to see all 14 layers of tip there?

I'd be interested in hearing why you like the the height you do.

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...


i use Triangles and start them off a 3/32" on the side wall with a dime radius or a little flatter but not nickel radius thats too flat, that way they dont mushroom(or if they do it aint bad) and they seem to bite the CB just rite for me, I wear them down to nothing if the tip is real good. I dont like big tall tips that act like shock absorbers. So after many experiments with tip starting heights I have ended up at 3/32", and yes I do use more tips because of the fact I'm starting with less tip-but its worth it. They just play better for me at that starting height,
 
Tip

I play with a Hercules layered tip. I touch up the shape with sandpaper to start out, and just use a Tippik on it afterwards, and it stays good. Tips usually last me 3.5 to 5 years.

A tip is usually best for me when it is 2-4 months old.

These players that have to grind on their tips all the time have an obsessive compulsive disorder.
 
I have always used a medium to medium soft layered tip (Moori, Kamui) and shaved off about 1/3 of the tip before installing...
I like the chalk retention qualities of a medium-soft to soft tip but when they are brand new and thick the hit seems to spongy. With that little bit shaved off the tip plays more like a medium to medium-hard tip (more shaft feedback) while maintaining the chalk retention. It just fits the "feel" I prefer when playing and allows me to get a little more english when needed, IMO...

I do change them out when they are about 1/16 - 1/8 of an inch from the ferrule... I go through about 3 tips/year because of this OCD habit but I can definately tell a difference...
 
Last edited:
lfigueroa said:
What height do you like your cue tip?

Are you one of those guys that likes them so low that the curvature of the tip goes right to the ferrule? Or, when the cue mechanic hands you back your newly re-tipped shaft you want and expect to see all 14 layers of tip there?

I'd be interested in hearing why you like the the height you do.

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

For me the thickness of 3 quarters.
 
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